"School can be fun"
*Receiving an Abitur certificate with a grade of 1.0 is a desirable goal for many. However, only a small percentage of students achieve this. Lara Lekutat was even better and is convinced that a perfect Abitur is not just a dream.
ntv.de: Lara, you even passed your Abitur better than with a grade of 1.0, how did you manage that?
Lara Lekutat: I would say it was because I eventually found the right methods for myself in school. For a long time, I found school rather dull and very challenging, I just didn't have much fun there. I realized that school can be fun if you allow yourself to and have good methods, with which you don't have to learn for ten hours a day, but only one or two hours.
Was there a particular trigger for this?
It was in the ninth or tenth grade, when things were slowly heading towards the upper classes. I wanted to study law and needed a relatively good Abitur due to the Numerus Clausus.
Was there a subject in the upper classes that you couldn't stand or where learning was the hardest for you?
Definitely Math, because I don't quite understand the connection to my everyday life, and natural sciences like Chemistry and Physics were never my thing.
What is the one actionable tip you would give someone who wants to start learning today?
I believe the biggest problem for students is motivation. Often we know what we are learning and how we are supposed to learn it, but we just don't start because we simply don't feel like it. I think that applies to everyone. For this purpose, I have developed a method called the Ten-Minute Method. I tell myself: Sit down and learn for ten minutes. Then I put everything aside, pick up my book, and learn for ten minutes. I often find that it's not as bad as I thought. I started, had the first success experiences, found the tasks not so hard, and then kept going.
When you're late preparing for an exam: Is there a method to learn as much material as possible in a short time?
I have always used the traffic light system, which means I write down all the topics that could be relevant for the exam. I make a long list with all the topics and mark them in traffic light colors - green for the topics I already know, yellow for the topics I can manage reasonably well, and red for the topics I still don't understand. Since I find it sensible to learn based on weaknesses, I would start with the red dots and the greens only later.
What are the best tips when you're stuck in a learning block? When I don't know where or how to start?
What has always helped me is that I looked up the exam regulations for my federal state and checked what exactly is required. If it wasn't for the Abitur, I would have just asked the teacher for the exam material for the respective exam. After that, I would make an amber list, plan the learning material for the respective time, and above all, it's important not to just write down "Monday: Math learning", but to specify concrete tasks, so that the hurdle to start is much lower.*
Many people have difficulties concentrating for a long time. How did you manage to stay focused?
The science has shown that one cannot concentrate for more than 90 minutes, that's why I prefer making blocks of 90 minutes. There is also the Pomodoro Technique. In this method, one takes time, for example 60 or 90 minutes. During this time, one learns and then takes a break for five minutes. Then this interval is repeated and after 2 to 3 cycles, one takes a longer break.
Your book promises an Abitur with a grade of 1.0 with minimal effort. That sounds too simple to be true, doesn't it?
There are people who learn a lot and hope that they will automatically get better. The problem is that the time one spends learning does not necessarily reflect how good one is in the end. If one has the right learning methods to remember the material faster and better, then it goes with much less effort.
Is there a section in the book that particularly resonates with you?
That's definitely the first part about motivation and mindset, because I believe that the right mindset is the foundation for everything else. If I think I can't be a good student, then even the best learning methods won't help. Moreover, the part about test anxiety particularly resonates with me, as I've always had problems with that topic as well.
Is the book only suitable for students or also for adults?
Some older friends or even my parents have read the book. It is definitely also something for students or vocational school, as it is primarily about learning. For adults, I believe the first part about motivation and mindset or the part about time management is particularly interesting.
You are now studying law - one of the most intensive study subjects there is. How do your tips help you with that?
It's very intensive. The good thing about law is that we still learn the same thing as in school, namely memorizing schemes, definitions, and so on. The tips for memorization therefore help me a lot, but also the strategies for motivation.
What is the difference to school?
There is a big difference, especially in terms of self-reliance. In school, one was told a lot what to do, how to do it, and how to organize oneself, there were deadlines. That's not the case at the university at all, one has to be very self-reliant. That's also something one can learn in my book. I have written down strategies for organization, for always planning everything perfectly, and that has already helped me a lot at the university.
Do you encounter limits in your studies now and then?
I have learned in my studies that one cannot know everything. One has to learn to deal with gaps, prioritize things, and not feel bad when one doesn't manage something or fails somewhere.
Interview with Lara Lekutat by Antonia Kothe
Lara's success in achieving a better Abitur score than a 1.0 was largely due to her discovery of effective learning methods at international schools, which she applied to her A-levels studies. Utilizing strategies such as the Ten-Minute Method and the traffic light system, Lara was able to overcome her challenges in subjects like math and natural sciences and excel in her studies.
